Contributors

Ryan Ray

A native Floridian, Ryan Ray is a veteran of Jim Davis for Governor, Cliff Somers for State House 2010 and President Obama’s re-election campaign in northern Hillsborough County. He studied history and philosophy at New College of Florida before shifting his focus to pickup basketball and the completion of Reconstruction. Read more at trampabaytimes.com or contact him here.

Justin Snyder, a Palm Beach County resident began his political career at Stetson University after being elected as the College Democrats President. During his tenure, Justin helped author the Florida College Democrats Constitution. In 2008, Justin interned and then organized for the Barack Obama Campaign in Volusia County. Since that time, Justin has worked on several political campaigns all over the country from Nevada, to Arkansas to right here in the Sunshine State including Heather Beaven’s Congressional campaign, Bill Halter’s Senate Campaign (Arkansas), and most recently as District Director CREDO SuperPac’s Take Down Allen West Campaign and as Field Director and Deputy Campaign Manager for Jeff Clemens For Florida Senate Campaign which resulted in a 17 vote victory.

Justin studied political science and economics at Stetson University and is a strong advocate for the middle class and progressive causes. His writing focuses on the Florida political scene and finding solutions to our most pressing issues be them political, economical, or cultural.

Steven H. Kurlander was born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Buffalo Law School.

After being admitted to the New York State Bar, Kurlander practiced law in Monticello, New York and was elected twice as a Sullivan County Legislator. He also worked there as a correspondent, photographer, and columnist for local daily and weekly newspapers. Kurlander founded and published a free weekly community newspaper, The Independent Weekly Review in the Catskills and Hudson Valley the 1990s.

Kurlander moved to South Florida in 2000 and has worked in the technology and real estate sectors. He was also Victory Field Director for the McCain/Palin campaign in Palm Beach County and was recognized as one of the campaign’s top grass roots organizers. He also wrote a regular column for the Sun Sentinel and Florida Voices.

Today, Kurlander is a Communications Strategist consultant to politicians and small businesses. He also publishes a blog called Kurly’s Kommentary, which can be found at www.stevenkurlander.com
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Kurlander lives with his wife Jodi and daughter Hannah in Rock Hill, New York and practices law in Monticello, New York. His son Aaron attends the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in New York City.

Look for Kurly’s Kommentary each Thursday at the Florida Squeeze.

Buy Kurly’s Novel by clicking the Dog Days of September on the below image!

J. Scott Gaillard – Contributor

J. Scott Gaillard has worked as a Senior Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for two member of the U.S. Congress and a member of the Florida Legislature. He has been involved with more than 15 campaigns and has hosted a radio call in show, “Talk Back Jacksonville.” He has worked in the investment industry with UBS PaineWebber, Fidelity Investments and Citistreet. His current areas of concentration include deconstructing the Paradox of Productivity and projecting future labor, income and wealth trends.